What the man held of account was that he should be gone in such a fashion that none could follow him or know whither he went.

The net is about us, my nephews, and I think that Saladin draws its string." Still less pleased would Sir Andrew have been, could he have seen the palmer Nicholas creeping round the hall while all men slept, ere he girded up his long gown and ran like a hare for London.
Yet he had done this by the light of the bright stars, taking note of every window slit in it, more especially of those of the solar; of the plan of the outbuildings also, and of the path that ran to Steeple Creek some five hundred yards away.
From that day forward fear settled on the place--fear of some blow that none were able to foresee, and against which they could not guard.

Sir Andrew even talked of leaving Steeple and of taking up his abode in London, where he thought that they might be safer, but such foul weather set in that it was impossible to travel the roads, and still less to sail the sea.

So it was arranged that if they moved at all--and there were many things against it, not the least of which were Sir Andrew's weak health and the lack of a house to go to--it should not be till after New Year's Day.
Thus the time went on, and nothing happened to disturb them.

The friends of whom the old knight took counsel laughed at his forebodings.